Only Survivor of Hot Car is Almost Ready for Adoption

Every year, countless dogs suffer from heat exhaustion inside hot cars. They're left in parking lots and driveways, sometimes with the windows cracked and sometimes not. Despite continued awareness and education about the dangers of hot cars, it still happens. And unfortunately, they can't all be saved.

When three puppies were locked in a hot car in Orange County, FL, police were called. They found three puppies, between two and six months old, panting heavily behind the window glass. The window was cracked, but that wasn't nearly enough to combat the fierce Florida heat.

A 6-month-old Chihuahua named Minnie never made it out of that vehicle alive. The second puppy, a shepherd mix named Kiara, was taken from the car and received emergency treatment, but she later died of heat exhaustion. The third puppy, eight-week-old Gruff, is the lone survivor.

Suffering from heat exhaustion, covered in fleas, and itching from a staph infection, Gruff was taken from his owner and received emergency veterinary care. It was later determined that the owner of the vehicle left the dogs in the hot car because they were not allowed in the hotel she was staying at during a Disney World vacation. She was arrested on site.

As the only puppy to survive the harrowing ordeal, Gruff is expected to make a full recovery. He was taken in by Poodle and Pooch Rescue in Florida where he received dedicated care from staff and volunteers. Michele Wacker, medical director with Poodle and Pooch Rescue told Fox 35,

"What his owner did to him is not forgivable because it's not like she forgot about them. Usually dogs don't survive when they're left in a car like that."

Now that Gruff is back to being a playful puppy, he's headed to a foster home to continue his recovery. He'll have a chance to feel loved and cared for and hopefully put his tragic experience behind him.

In three weeks, Gruff will be available for adoption. Shelter representatives expect to receive hundreds of applications for the adorable puppy, and they're excited to find the perfect family for their little survivor.